Chapter Thirty-eight #2
Melanie giggled, playfully swatting his shoulder. “Fred’s been so busy with business, I figured he needed a proper tour. I mean, what kind of host would I be otherwise?”
Jill’s jaw tightened.
Mason’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “Wait, so … you two are …?”
Melanie laughed lightly. “Oh, Mason, don’t look so shocked. Fred and I get along splendidly even though we’ve only known each other a few weeks.”
Fred winked at her. “I’m just lucky she has good taste.”
Jill clenched her teeth. “Right. Well, don’t let us keep you from your … tour.”
Fred chuckled and picked up his napkin. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Melanie smiled sweetly. “You both have a wonderful day.”
Jill and Mason turned and walked out of the inn, stepping onto the porch.
Mason exhaled loudly, shaking his head. “What the hell was that?”
Jill pulled out her sunglasses and put them on. “You tell me, Deputy. You’re the one with all the observations.”
Mason scratched his head, still dumbfounded. “I mean, is Melanie really interested in Grindle, or is she using him?”
Jill sighed. “Considering she’s spent the last few months pining over Bradley Comstock, I’d say this whole thing smells of revenge dating.”
Mason whistled. “She sure sold it well.”
Jill glanced at him. “Getting better at spotting things, aren’t you?”
Mason grinned, pleased with himself. “I try.”
Jill clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Keep up the good work, Deputy.”
Jill sat in her cruiser, parked across the street from Comstock Dental, her fingers drumming idly against the steering wheel.
The late afternoon sun had begun its slow descent, casting long golden shadows along the quiet streets of Halibut Cove.
A few stragglers still wandered in and out of nearby shops, but for the most part, the workday was winding down.
She’d been waiting for nearly twenty minutes, watching the door of the dental office like a hawk.
Finally, the door swung open, and Melanie stepped out and locked up for the night.
Melanie was meticulously put together, as always—her blouse tucked perfectly into her tailored skirt, her auburn hair still in flawless curls despite a full day at work. She exhaled, yawning as she dropped her keys into her purse.
Jill pushed open the cruiser door and stepped out.
“Long day?” she asked casually.
Melanie whipped around, startled, her expression quickly shifting to irritation.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I had loads to do this afternoon after taking the whole morning off, as you already know,” she said, shouldering her bag defensively. “How can I help you, Chief?”
Jill took her time, leaning against the hood of her car, arms crossed.
“I’m just tying up some loose ends,” she said. “Thought I’d have a little chat with you before you head off for the night.”
Melanie huffed out a laugh, and adjusted the strap of her purse. “If this is about Fred, I don’t see how that’s any of your business. Fred and I are just having fun. If you must know, I enjoy his company.”
Jill nodded slowly, watching her. “Is that right? And Bradley?”
Something flashed across Melanie’s face, something she tried to mask with a smirk.
“Bradley is my boss,” she said, a little too flippantly.
Jill stepped forward, her voice lowering. “You know, I get it. Unrequited love is a real bitch.”
Melanie’s shoulders tensed.
Jill tilted her head, assessing her reaction. “You’ve been carrying a torch for Bradley ever since you started working for him, I imagine.”
Melanie stiffened. “This is ridiculous.”
Jill continued, her tone soft but relentless. “And what did you get for it? A pat on the head? Him using you when it was convenient? And then, when you tried to make him jealous, what did he do?”
Melanie’s jaw clenched.
Jill leaned in, voice gentle now. “He encouraged it, didn’t he?”
Melanie inhaled sharply, looking away.
Jill didn’t let up.
“You wanted Bradley to notice you, so you dated Fred,” she said matter-of-factly. “But instead of getting jealous, Bradley thought it was a great business move.”
Melanie let out a shaky breath, her carefully constructed mask crumbling.
“Yeah,” she whispered. “That’s exactly what happened.”
Jill waited.
Melanie crossed her arms, hugging herself. “I thought if he saw me with someone else, maybe he’d—” She broke off, shaking her head. “But he didn’t care. He wanted me to date Fred. Said it would be ‘strategically beneficial’ for him.”
Jill’s stomach tightened.
“That was the moment I realized,” Melanie continued bitterly. “Bradley never felt anything for me.” She laughed hollowly. “And now I can’t even stand to be around him. I’m looking for another job. I just … I can’t do it anymore.”
Jill studied her, searching for any sign of dishonesty. “And the night Griffin Mead was killed? You’re his airtight alibi. Was that just a made-up story to protect him?”
Melanie shook her head, adamant now. “I swear, I was with Bradley that night. He didn’t kill Griffin.
I wouldn’t lie about that, Chief. But there was no love lost there, to be honest. I know there was something that happened between Griffin and Bradley’s father. He just didn’t want to talk about it.”
Jill didn’t respond right away. She wanted to believe her, but her gut told her there was still more to this story.
“So you admit Bradley has deep resentment about what happened to his father,” Jill pressed.
Melanie sighed. “Yes. He’s never been able to let it go. But that doesn’t mean he killed anyone.”
Jill took a step back, processing. “And Fred? What’s his angle?”
Melanie hesitated, then shook her head. “I don’t know. He and Bradley were definitely working on something big, but I never got the full details.”
Jill nodded slowly.
If Fred was involved in Bradley’s business dealings, and those dealings somehow involved the Barkers’ land, then maybe there was a reason both Chips Hogan and Griffin Mead had to go.
The question was, What exactly were they covering up?
Melanie shifted uncomfortably. “Are we done here?”
Jill studied her one last time, then gave a slow nod.
“For now.”
Melanie turned on her heel and hurried to her car, the usual self-assured strut missing from her step.
Jill watched her go, feeling like they were finally getting close.
Maybe too close.